3.1.12 Wiping on Khuffs

In this unit:

A khuff is a special footwear that you can wipe on instead of washing your feet in wudu.

A khuff must fulfill certain conditions.

Keywords

Khuff/Khuffayn

Waterproof

Traveler

Resident

Akhuff is a leather sock or boot that people wear on their feet. A pair of them is called khuffayn. We’ll just call them khuffs to make it easier to remember. Here are some examples of khuffs. The ones that look like socks are special sports socks that fulfill the conditions for khuffs, which we’ll discuss below.

If you are wearing khuffs, you can wipe on them in wudu instead of washing your feet, but with some rules.

To start with, you have to put on your khuffs after you are completely pure (meaning you made wudu and ghusl if you needed to). You must not take the khuffs off. In fact, you must pray in the khuffs that you wiped on.

Conditions for the Kuff

Not just any socks or boots will do for wiping. Here are some conditions the khuffs have to fulfill in order to be able to wipe on them.

1. The khuffs must cover the part of the foot that is washed in wudu

1. The khuffs must cover the part of the foot that is washed in wudu

i.e. the entire foot up to and including the ankles.

2. The khuffs must be strong enough for you to be able to walk in it on land that’s of medium roughness.

2. The khuffs must be strong enough for you to be able to walk in it on land that’s of medium roughness.

If it’s only good for your comfy house tiles, like thin dress socks, then it’s not good for wiping. And you sure won’t be able to walk on jagged mountains with thin dress socks. Ouch!

3. It must be strong enough to prevent water from reaching the foot (waterproof).

3. It must be strong enough to prevent water from reaching the foot (waterproof).

If the material is durable, then it will be strong enough to prevent water from reaching the foot. It doesn’t matter what your khuff is made from, as long as it’s strong enough material e.g. sealskinz socks or leather socks.

This doesn’t mean you have to be able to take a dip in the ocean with your khuff. The important thing is, if you drip water on it, the water won’t reach your foot.

4. The khuffs and your feet must be pure at the time you are wiping on it.

4. The khuffs and your feet must be pure at the time you are wiping on it.

If there is najasa on your khuffs or feet, remember to purify them first before putting your khuffs on and wiping over them.

How long can I be wiping?

1. For 72 hours if you are a traveller on a long trip in which you are allowed to shorten your prayers.

2. For 24 hours if you are not traveling on a trip in which you can shorten your prayers.
We’ll talk about who can shorten prayers in another lesson.

Your time limit starts from the time you lose your wudu, not from the time you put on your khuffs. Think about it this way – the ‘stopwatch’ on your khuff only starts ticking once your wudu is broken. For example, if Iman makes wudu at 10 am, puts her khuff on immediately, then goes to use the bathroom at 12 pm, her khuff is valid for 24 hours from 12 pm.

You can’t wipe anymore if:

1. You take off your khuff or khuffs.
2. The khuff no longer fulfills the conditions for wiping, such as having a hole in it.
3. You end your time limit of 24 or 72 hours.
4. You get major hadath.

Take a look at this:

How to wipe a khuff?

Make wudu completely by washing all the organs of wudu.

Put on your khuffs.

Next time you break your wudu and want to make a new wudu, perform the wudu like usual. But then, when you get to your feet, wipe your khuffs instead of washing your feet.

To wipe your khuffs, wet your hand and wipe the top of the khuff. Make sure you wipe the top. If you don’t wipe the top, it doesn’t count, even if you wipe other parts.